This monsoon has brought no cheers for residents of New Hargobind Nagar and Mohar Singh Nagar. Just like every year, the MC’s tall claims are exposed. The rainwater from the nearby Ganda Nullah entered houses in the areas last week, damaging articles worth lakhs of rupees.

This monsoon has brought no cheers for residents of New Hargobind Nagar and Mohar Singh Nagar. Just like every year, the MC’s tall claims are exposed. The rainwater from the nearby Ganda Nullah entered houses in the areas last week, damaging articles worth lakhs of rupees.

Every time the nullah overflows, the muddy water causes severe damage to household articles, throwing the normal life out of the gear.

Roads in the areas resemble a nullah. Many say rain is like a curse for them. Clogged drains, no sewerage system, and commuters wading through waterlogged roads — it’s just a common sight.

The five-year old project of the municipal corporation (MC) — mooted in 2011 — for covering the nullah is hanging fire. After every downpour, the water from it enters the low-lying areas. “It’s is no less than a nightmare,” say locals. All requests to the Prime Minister, Punjab chief minister and the deputy chief minister have fallen on deaf ears, they say.

The Congress government during its tenure in 2002-2007 also started the project to cover the nullah but it never saw the light of day.

After the SAD-BJP formed, the MC prepared a new design — costing over Rs 21.77 crore — to cover the nullah’s from Gurdwara Dukhniwaran Sahib to Shagun Palace in 2011. The deadline for its completion was one and half year. Five years have passed, and the area people are still suffering.

Covering work remains incomplete

Sources say the agreement with the contractor ran into trouble over payment issues, and the work was stalled. After a year, it was resumed, but is running at a snail’s pace — all thanks to the apathetic nature of the MC.

The MC assured to deploy 40 employees to clean the Ganda Nullah, but to no avail. The contractor installed the machines, but the work is still incomplete. Some covered portion of the nullah is also choked, say sources.